Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (BCIT)
IndyCar Electric Conversion Capstone Project
As part of a multidisciplinary team at BCIT, our objective was to convert a 1990s Reynard IndyCar chassis from its original combustion engine to an electric drivetrain. This required designing and implementing a custom structural replacement and integrating an electric motor with the existing transaxle, while adhering to tight space, weight, and safety constraints.
Designed a modular motor mount in SolidWorks
Validated strength and alignment via FEA and analytical calculations
Fabricated and assembled using BCIT shop equipment
Results
- Motor mount successfully designed and installed, integrating the electric motor into the new structural frame with proper shaft alignment
- FEA validation confirmed structural integrity with a safety factor > 13.0 under estimated operating and shock loads
- Documented and presented the project at the 2025 BCIT Engineering Expo
- Enhanced visual presentation via powder coating, painting, and vinyl w
Temperature Control System for Stencil Printing (Sponsored by Svante)
As part of a second-year engineering capstone, our team partnered with Svante Technologies Inc. to design a temperature control assembly (TEC) for a proprietary stencil printing test apparatus used in carbon capture R&D. The TEC needed to heat or cool interchangeable stencil plates across a wide temperature range (−10°C to 150°C) with ±1°C accuracy, without interfering with the apparatus or usin
Designed stencil plate, Peltier layout, and control box enclosure using SolidWorks.
Performed FEA to validate heat transfer paths, thermal response, and mechanical stability under clamping loads.
Assembled the system including wiring, power components, and water cooling loop; conducted functional testing and addressed unexpected PSU cycling behavior.
Results
- Designed and fabricated a working TEC prototype, integrating all control and thermal subsystems
- Achieved preliminary heating response time under 30 seconds
- Final FEA confirmed plate deflection and thermal conduction met safety and thermal criteria
- Delivered a fully enclosed control system, safely housing high-voltage and high-temperature components
- Displayed at the 2023 BCIT Engineering Expo a